Ryan Crouser makes history at Drake Relays
Olympic shot put champion becomes second man to have all six throws beyond 22m as Dawn Harper-Nelson makes promising comeback in Des Moines.
Athletics
Ryan Crouser put together one of the greatest shot put series in history at the Drake Relays in Des Moines on Saturday (29 August).
The Rio 2016 gold medallist had all six throws in excess of 22m inside the Blue Oval, becoming the second man to achieve that feat.
Running in the last event of the afternoon, reigning Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo failed to finish the 200m with victory going to this season's breakout star Lynna Irby.
Olympic silver medallist Sandi Morris took victory in the pole vault while there was a shock defeat for reigning Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta in the women's long jump.
Beijing 2008 gold medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson made a promising return from retirement, finishing fourth in the 100m hurdles behind Britain's Tiffany Porter.
And Josephus Lyles, brother of world champion Noah, won the men's 200m in 20.32s.
Crouser dominates shot put again
Randy Barnes' shot put world record of 23.12m looks under serious threat from Ryan Crouser who had consistency to match his excellence.
The Olympic shot put champion won Tuesday's competition in the same venue with a first-round throw of 22.56m.
Crouser went further today with 22.72m his best in round two as he made it four wins out of four this season.
Previously, only Italy's 1984 Olympic champion Alessandro Andrei had managed six throws beyond 22m as he set a then-world record of 22.91m in Viareggio in 1987.
By coincidence, 22.91m is also Crouser's personal best set last month in Marietta, Georgia.
On her first appearance since September 2018 having ended her retirement from the track after becoming a mother, Dawn Harper-Nelson showed she could still be a force to be reckoned with.
The 36-year-old, who won gold in Beijing and silver at London 2012, was third in the second heat of the women's 100m hurdles clocking 13.17s for fourth overall.
Victory went to Rio finalist and British record holder Tiffany Porter who crossed the line in a season's best 12.90s.
Sandi Morris won the pole vault with a first-time clearance at 4.55m before going over 4.65 on her third and final attempt.
Last year's world silver medallist then had three failures at 4.75m.
Meanwhile, reigning Olympic long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta was well down on her best.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist - two in the 4x100m relay - could only manage 5.93m which left her in third behind Jordan Gray's winning jump of 6.16m.